WHAT IF ANOTHER AIRPLANE TAKEN OVER?

9-11 COMMISSION REPORT ^ | 2004 | National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

[mordo]

Third, NEADS needed orders to pass to the pilots. At 10:10, the pilots over Washington were emphatically told, "negative clearance to shoot." Shootdown authority was first communicated to NEADS at 10:31. It is possible that NORAD commanders would have ordered a shootdown in the absence of the authorization communicated by the Vice President, but given the gravity of the decision to shoot down a commercial airliner, and NORAD's caution that a mistake not be made, we view this possibility as unlikely.240

NORAD officials have maintained that they would have intercepted and shot down United 93.We are not so sure. We are sure that the nation owes a debt to the passengers of United 93.Their actions saved the lives of countless others, and may have saved either the Capitol or the White House from destruction.

The details of what happened on the morning of September 11 are complex, but they play out a simple theme. NORAD and the FAA were unprepared for the type of attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001.They struggled, under difficult circumstances, to improvise a homeland defense against an unprecedented challenge they had never before encountered and had never trained to meet.

[mordo]

As I understand it. If a Civilan Aircraft Private or Commerecial

A. deviates from planned flight path

B. wont divert course upon command

C. Is determined to be unfriendly

Then the entire aiplane with all souls onboard is expendable.

With the new protocol, where does the shootdown order come from?

[Normal4me]

Haliburton.

[mordo]

http://www.mishalov.com/wtc_improvising-homeland-defense.html


http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm

[petercooper]

BIGTIME orders the shootdowns.

[Dog Gone]

I was thinking the Viking Kitties, but you might be right.

[RetiredArmy]

It is their fault. Always. If no answer, blame them, Bush, Cheney. That would cover it.

[inquest]

While everyone's talking about shooting down planes, how's the progress coming on getting pilots armed?

[mtbopfuyn]

Pre-9/11, I would imagine a pilot given the orders to shoot down a passenger plane would hesitate and possibly fail to follow such orders. Today, there would be no hesitation. Thanks, but I'll continue to drive to my desination.

[mordo]

Well those are at least rapid responses.

[mordo]

Pre-9/11, I would imagine a pilot given the orders to shoot down a passenger plane would hesitate and possibly fail to follow such orders. Today, there would be no hesitation. Thanks, but I'll continue to drive to my desination.

I think your right. The protocols were essentially in place then.

[inquest]

Thanks, but I'll continue to drive to my desination.

The chances of something happening to you are probably higher by doing that than by flying.

[mordo]

Don't know.
That would seem a last ditch measure to stop a cockpit breach. At that point I would hope they are putting it down in a cornfield or on a freeway.

[Dont Mention the War]

With the new protocol, where does the shootdown order come from?

The President, if there's time to reach him.

If not, Dick Cheney makes the call.

If he's not available either, the Pentagon is authorized to make the call.

[mordo]

So there is a defined process from highest authority to lower. That is good. Quick decisions with less hesitation.

[cripplecreek]

These days I suspect that it's a lot tougher to take over a plane. Passengers today are a lot more willing to act. And a terrorist needs to get into a locked cockpit to do the most damage. That takes time.

As far as giving an order to shoot down a jet goes, I'm just glad I don't have to make the decision.

[inquest]

That would seem a last ditch measure to stop a cockpit breach.

But a rather effective one, as far as I can see. I think a pilot shooting a terrorist is far preferable to a fighter jet shooting a civilian plane.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[Yasotay]

These days I suspect that it's a lot tougher to take over a plane. Passengers today are a lot more willing to act.

I totally agree, Flight 93 was so very important. I now believe it is impossible in the US to have a successful hijacking of a passenger airline ..... the reason .... everyone now knows it is a fight to the death.

[DeeOhGee]

If they want the best way to make airline travel safer, the fed gov will do the following:

1. Eliminate fed regs and rules that prohibit proper and prudent law enforcing, including those prohibiting profiling;

2. Require airlines to provide their own security.

You will see each airline providing its on security, with metal detectors and searches - or not - at each gate. The market will determine which airline has the best and most profitable security, and will determine the price accordingly.

Airline A will have minimal security, maximum risk and lower costs.

Airline B will have maximum security, minimal risk and higher prices.

The consumer will choose what he is willing to pay for a secure flight.

[mordo]

Flight 93 was so very important. I now believe it is impossible in the US to have a successful hijacking of a passenger airline ..... the reason .... everyone now knows it is a fight to the death.

I agree. Then from that are firearms in the cockpit still essential? JetBlue CEO David Neeleman is against it July 08, 2002.

http://www.sctm-iu.org/newsbb/news.cfm?nid=64